Change is like a friend you haven't seen in ages… it needs to be embraced before you can both laugh about the good old days.
- Shane Koyczan
Prévoyance is the ability to prepare for the unexpected in a world of uncertainty while maintaining your principles.
It is a concept introduced to Canada by the great explorer Champlain. There is no English equivalent. Pity. We could use more of this ability today.
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Fifteen years ago, there was no easy way for large sections of the community to share their opinion without calling a meeting, voting, or going door-to-door. The terms "social media" or "smartphone" weren't part of our vernacular, largely because they didn't yet exist. The first Blackberry smartphone was introduced to the market in 2003 and the first iPhone was released in 2007. Facebook was launched in a college dorm room in 2004, while YouTube arrived in 2005 and Twitter just one year later in 2006.
Today, our smartphones, tablets, wearable technology and the apps they run connect us to the cloud and to each other in ways few would have imagined just 15 years ago.
In the July edition of Engage! we challenged you to submit up to ten photos that were inspired by the theme of "Possible" to bring out imagery that could inspire others.
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Sometimes, things just don't seem to be feeling right in collective impact initiatives. If you feel that way about your own initiative, it might be time for a checkup. Fortunately, collective impact initiatives don't need doctors or even outside experts to tell them how they're doing. Conducting a transparent, shared, and meaningful selfassessment is a powerful experience that can build even greater commitment and energy among your group.
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Civic Commons is a term that refers to the facilities and shared spaces where a city's residents "celebrate, learn, rest, play, make key decisions, express collective aspirations and provide for themselves and one another. "The civic commons is also increasingly being recognized as an important factor in the quality of life of citizens and the ability of cities to attract and retain the talent and investment needed to support their overall economic vitality.
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The Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health (CCSDH) has recently released a new paper, A Review of Frameworks on the Determinants of Health that reviews 36 frameworks from a variety of sectors on the determinants of health, from Canada and abroad, and provides an indepth assessment of seven frameworks that are particularly relevant to the Canadian context.
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